Fans of cozy fantasies and compelling adult women protagonists who find purpose—and fabulousness—in nature, magic, and new connections will adore the laid-back, lavender-scented vibes as Olivia goes from destitute loneliness to settling into the charming village of Rowanswood, whose scones, teas, crockery, beasts, magic, and ritual all are described with inviting relish. Olivia’s journey to Cronehood is nuanced, her struggles endearingly human as she finds her path toward letting go of her old life to embrace the new.
While writing a fantasy short story set in the world of Rowanswood, I stumbled into an unexpected research question: what do you call a group of selkies? The answer turned into a delightful folklore rabbit hole about language, mythology, and the small details that bring magical worlds to life.